Film developing apparatus



July 21, 1942. L. D. ANDREWS ETAL FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS m E N M T T A y 1942- L. D. ANDREWS EI'AL 2,290,152

FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTORS 5% Ma a-qr?- a; ATTORNEKS.

Patented July 21, 1942 2.290.152 mm nsvstormo arr-snares DcwisnAndrews. 8t.Marys.Pa.,and Johnw.

Company.

New Jersey, jointly -N. Y., assignors to Stack- Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,106

11 Claims. (01. sis-00.5)

This invention relates to apparatus for developing strips oi photographic film, such as candid camera film and the like, and is especially applicable to a daylight loading developer.

The film developing apparatus disclosed herein is the same as that shown in the copending application of Lewis D. Andrews Serial No. 333,-

- one or both of these members were disposed in the developing tank at that time. The reel is'of the well known type having spiral grooves for receiving the opposite edges of the film which is bowed to permit it to enter the reel between its flanges. Obviously, such a reel will receive the film in its spiral grooves only. when it is rotated in a certain direction.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide film developing apparatus 01 this character in which during loading the reel is locked in a predetermined position relative to the cartridge so that the leading end of the film can easily be attached to the reel and so that the turning of the reel in the correct direction is practically assured. Other objects are to provide such apparatus in which the reel locking means is automatically released when the cover is locked on the tank, and in which the reel locking means is automatically efiective after the cover locking means is released.

In accordance with this invention a tank is formed for receiving and rotatably supporting a film cartridge and a film-receiving reel spaced laterally therefrom. The flanges-t the reel are provided with spiral grooves into which the edges 01' the film are led by first bowing it transversely.

The leadingend of the film is connected to the reel that isturned by means of an operating knob connected thereto and which extends through and overlies the cover. The reel is carried by the cover so that it is removable with it, and the cover also is adapted to rotatably support a film cartridge beside the reel. Means is provided for locking the reel against rotation when the cover is removed from the tank so that the film attaching means on the reel can be positioned in a predetermined fixed position relative to the cartridge. Preferably, the reel and its turning knob have an axial passage therethrough in which a bolt-like memberis inserted with its inner end releasably attached to the tank to.lock

the cover thereon. and the reel lock is applied. by the bolt-like memberwhen the cover is unlocked from the tank'and is released when the cover is locked on the tank.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view or the film developing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-1J1 of Fig. 1 and showing the reel locking means unlocked; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the reel locking means in locking position; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V-V oi Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the film cut-ofl in cutting position; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower flange of the reel; and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line VIIL-VIII of Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, part of the'side wall 01' the tank I forms a wall for the major portion of a circular area 2 in which ear-1 posed film is developed, as will be described presently. The side wall of the tank at its opposite end forms a wall for the major portion of a smaller circular area 3 adapted to receive a cartridge 4 containing a roll of undeveloped film 6. The bottom of the tank at the center of the developing area is provided with a high cylindrical boss 1 which projects up into a cylindrical opening in the center oi a film-developing reel 8 removably disposed in the tank. This boss not only positions the reel in the tank, but also serves as a bearing for it.

The inner face or each flange of the reel is provided with a spiral groove it for receiving the edge portions of the film in a well-known manner.

(Figs. 7 and 8) so that the edge or the film will be developed along with its body. Each boss presents only an inclined edge to the film and theretore has only a point contact with the film. The

reel is made in two parts which are then connect-'- ed together at their hubs.

For this purpose the center of each flange is provided with an inwardly extending cylindrical hub, the upper one i 2 being the reel is assembled, the lower end of the upper hub is provided with a notch that fits over an in- I tegral key ii on the lower hub.

The upper and lower fianges are provided be- 7 r The film is held out of engagement with the inner side of the groove by bosses il therein slots I! for receiving the ends of a knurled roller It. When the reel is in the position in which it is ready to start unwinding the film from the cartrldge, as shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the slots nearest the film cartridge slant in toward the reel hub. Thus, with the leading end of the film inserted between the roller and hub, and the roller moved in the slots toward the hub, the film is engaged by the roller and pressed tightly against the hub. The rollers grip on the film is increased asv the film is ed.

To look the two parts of the reel togetherand also provide means for turning it, the top of the lower hub is provided with an interiorly threaded bushing 2i adapted to threadably receive a cooperat threaded w; 22 on the bottom of a mob 23, as shown in Fig. 3. This knob overlaps a portion of the tank cover 24 through which bushing 22 extends, and thereby suspends the reel from the cover. Preferably, the cover opening is encircled by a rib it that projects into an annular recess 2? the bottom or the lmob so that ht cannot enter the tank through the cover one.

To moire it possible to lock the cover on the tank, in order that an undeveloped film can not fall out in case the tank is accidentally upset, the turning knob and its busg are provided with an axial passage in which a pin 3i may be disposed. The lower end oi the pin is threaded so as to screw intoo threaded bushing 32 in the top or Loss d that supports the reel. Rigidly mounted on the outer end of this pin is a lznoh 88 by which it may be screwed into place and which is ed in the hollow upper portion oi the reel turning knob which it engages.

The portion or the cover over the cartridge receiving area 8 of the is iorovided with a circular opening in which a hollow cylindrical housing 36 is rotatably mounted. This housing is provided at its upper end with a peripheral flange 62 that rests on the cover in -light-trapping relation. The lower portion of the housing is decreased in'diameter to provide between it and the side wall of the tank a se with which the interior of the housing communicates through a relatively large opening it for a purpose described hereinafter. The housing is adapted to rotatably receive a cartridge 3, and therefore is provided in its side wall with a vertical slot 86 (Fig. 5) through which the is drawn from the usual slot in the side of the cartridge. The bottom hub of the cartridge is rotatably mounted in a circular recess 58 in the bottom or the tank, as shown in Fig. 3.

This apparatus is loaded by first removing the tank cover and turning it bottom side up. A film cartridge is then dropped in housing ll and the leading end of the film pulled through slot it and inserted between roller l8 and the reel hub between which it is securely gripped. The cover is then replaced on the tank into which the reel and film cartridge project as shown in Fig. 3. To facilitate the attaching of thefilm to the reel hub it is desirable that the reel be locked in fixed position during the operation with roller IS in the position relative to the cartridge shown in. Fig. 5. when the film is attached to the reel in such position the operator will see that the reel should be turned to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, to pull the film into its spiral grooves, and that to turn it in the 1y because it would first form slack in the film and then double it around the roller l8.

To look the reel for this purpose with filmgripping roller it in a predetermined position relative to the film cartridge, hub bushing 2| is provided in its inner surface with a vertical slot in which a key. is slidably mounted. The

' upper end of this key extends laterally over the reel for a short distance, and the lower end is bent inwardly and iorked (Fig. 5) so as to straddle a reduced portion 31 of locking pin 3| in achamber between the bottom of the knob extension and the top of boss 7. When the cover is locked on the tank by pin 3!, as in Fig. 3, key 36 is allowed to drop down with its upper end resting on top of the reel and it therefore performs no function, but when the lower end of pin 53!! is unscrewed irom hub bushing 32 a coil spring or encircling pin 3| and compressed between knobs t3 and 23 raises the pin relative to knob 23. As shown in Fig. 4, this causes the shoulder at the bottom of reduced portion 87 to lift the hey so that its upper end will project into a recess or slot 39 in the bottom of the cover when the reel is rotated to a predetermined position in which the key and slot register, whereby the key then prevents the reel from rotating relative to the cover until knob 33 is again depressed in locking the cover onto the tank. The reel lock is thus automatically applied and released when the cover is locked on or unlocked from the tank.

During the winding of the film from the cartridge to the reel, after they have been placed in the tank, the top of housing ii is closed by a rotatable knob (ll having a depending periph eral flange 38 proiecting into an annular recess 69 in the top of the housing to prevent light from entering the latter. This knob has a depending split stem Elli that projects into the central opening of the mid: cartridge and frictionally or mechanically grips it, depending uponwhichthe film can not pass without bowing. As shownin Fig. 2, the inner end portion of the lower ribbs upper surface slants downwardly toward itsend. This inclined surface tends to cause the edge of the film to slip toward the adjacent end of the rib and thereby compel it to bow in the opposite direction, which is necessary.

To permit the rear end of the film to be positively severed from the cartridge after it has been unwound therefrom by the reel, a vertical serrated blade 56 is rigidly mounted in the tank a at one side of slot 44 in the cartridge housing so that when the housing is turned by its knurled flange 42 it will force the film against the blade and thereby cut it in two close to its rear end.

to To aid in supporting the film during the cutting operation, housing 4| is provided exteriorly of slot 44 on the side opposite the blade with an elongate vertical member 51 provided with a blade-receiving recess 58. The side wall of the opposite direction would be to turn it baekward- 78 tank is provided with an offset portion 59 for 1 when it is being emptied. The washing water him from a cartridge in said housing, and reaseossa n and disposed in the other of said chambers.

receiving this blade-receiving member when the cartridge housing is turned to him eut-oiI-poaition, asshowninl'iac. Wheninthisposition. housing slot is closedbythesideoithetanhand means on the reel hub for attaching thereto the leadingendoiafilmiromacartridgeinsaid housing, the inner faces of the reel flanges being light is further prevented irom entering the tank 5 provided with spiral grooves for receiving the through this slot by the blade which is then disedges or said film, and releasable reel-positioning posed in the blade-receiving member and theremeans for locking the reel against rotation with by helps form a light trap. To hold the carsaid film attaching means in film threading potridge housing in either of its two positions, 1. e., sition relative to the cartridge housing. operative or cut-oil, its flange 42 is provided 3. A film developer comprising a tank provided with a radially projecting boss I (Fig. 1) having with communicating chambers, a removable cover a downwardly facing opening in which a spring for the tank, a film cartridge housing depending pressed ball i2 is slidably disposed. This ball is from the cover into one 01 said chambers, a filmadapted to project into either one of two cirreceiving reel rotatably carried by the cover and cumi'erentiaily spaced depressions 6| in the tank is disposed in the other of said chambers, means cover. on the reel for attaching the leading end 01 a when the cartridge housing is in fllm cut-oi! film from a cartridge in said housing, the botposition knob 41 that closes it may be removed tom of the cover being provided with a recess, a to permit removal of the empty cartridge withlooking key carried by the reel, and means for out light being 'able to enter the tank through 90 moving said key into said recess to lock the reel the cartridge. Developing solution is then supagainst rotation, said key and recess being so plied to the tank by pouring it in through empty positioned relative to the reel and cartridge housing II from which it escapes into the tank housing as to lock the reel with said attaching through opening 41 which is in the side oi the means in film attaching position relative to said housing iarthest from the reel. The film can be housing.

agitated in the developing solution by merely turning the reel. The developer is removed from the tank by merely pouring it out of the cartridge housing. However, when the tank is tilted for this purpose some 0! the developer will leak out go around the cover. .To take care of this leakage the top of the entire tank is surrounded by a deep channel 80 into which cover flange I! eattends, and the outer wall of the channel is elevated at the pouring end of the tank to provide a pouring spout 08. This spout pours a stream of developer from channel it into thestream issuing from the cartridge housing, whereby only one stream leaves the tank as a whole. Filling and emptying the tank can be speeded up by providing the bottom of channel it with bosses it that space the bottom 01 the cover flange from the tank. This space forms an air vent while the tank is being filled, and an outlet is introduced into the tank and removed therefrom in the same manner as the developer.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and mode of operation of our invention, and have illustrated and described what we nowconsider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

' We claim: I

1. A film developer comprising a tank provided with communicating chambers, a removable cover for the tank, a film cartridge housing depending from the cover into one of said chambers, a filmreceiving reel rotatably carried by the cover and disposed in the other of said chambers, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of a leasable means automatically operative when the cover is removed from the tank for locking the reel against rotation when said attachingmeans is in fllm attaching position relative to the cartridge housing.

2. A fllm developer comprising a tank provided with communicating chambers, a removable cover for the tank, a film cartridge housing depending from the cover into one of said chambers, a

4. A film developer comprising a tank, a removable cover for the tank adapted to rotatably carry a film cartridge adjacent its underside, a film-receiving reel rotatably carried by the cover beside said cartridge, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of a film from the cartridge, a turning member above the cover provided with an extension projecting through the cover and connected to the center of the reel, said member and extension being provided with an axial opening therethrough and the reel having a chamber at the inner end of said opening, a locking key overlying the reel and extending into said chamber, said key being movable only axially of the reel, and means extending through said opening and connected to the key in said chamber for raising the key, the bottom of the cover being provided with an opening for removable cover for the tank adapted to rotatably carry a film cartridge adjacent its underside, a

so film-receiving reel rotatably carried by the cover beside said cartridge, means on the reel for attaching the leading and of a. film from the cartridge, releasable means for locking the reel against rotation with said attaching means in film attaching position relative to the cartridge,

means for locking the cover on the tank, and

means automatically releasing said reel lock when said cover lock is applied.

6. A film developer comprising a tank provided m withxan upstanding cylindrical boss on its bottom, a film-receiving reel having a hollow hub rotatabiy mounted on said boss, a, cover for the tank provided with an opening above said hub and adapted to. rotatably carry a film cartridge gs adjacent its underside, a turning knob overlying the-cover and having an extension projecting through said cover opening and connected to said hub, said knob and extension being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a locking 'nfmember extending down through said axial opening into detachable engagement with said boss tor-locking the cover on the tank, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of film :trom said cartridge, and means actuated when film-receiving reel rotatably carried by the cover 7 said locking member is released from said boss for locking the reel against rotation with said attaching means in film attaching position relative to the cartridge.

7. A film developer comprising a tank provided with an upstanding cylindrical boss on its bottom, a film-receiving reel having a hollow hub rotatably mounted on said boss, a cover for the tank provided with an opening above said hub and adapted to rotatably carry a film cartridge adjacent its underside, a turning knob overlying the cover and having an extension projecting through said cover opening and connected to said hub, said knob and extension being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a locking member extending down through said axial opening into detachable, engagement with said boss for locking the cover on the tank, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of film from said cartridge, means biasing said locking merinber upwardly relative to said boss, and means actuated by said upwardly biased locking memher when it is released from said boss for holding the reel against rotation with said attaching means in film attaching position relative to the cartridge.

8. A film developer comprising a tank provided with an upstanding cylindrical boss on its bottom, a film-receiving reel having a hollow hub rotatably mounted on said boss, a cover for the tank provided with an opening above said hub and adapted to rotatably carry a film cartridge adjacent its underside, a-turning knob overlying the cover and having an extension projecting through said cover opening and connected to said hub, said knob and extension being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a locking member extending down through said axial opening into detachable engagement with said .boss for locking the cover on the tank, means on the reel [for attaching the leading end of the film from said cartridge, means biasing said locking member upwardly relative to said boss, and a key slidably mounted between said knob extension and hub with its lower end connected to said locking member for axial movement therewith, the lower surface of the cover being provided with a recess adjacent its opening, and the upper end of said key projecting into said recess when the upwardly biased locking member is released from said boss whereby to hold the reel against rotation with said attaching means in film attaching position relative to the cartridge.

9. A film developer comprising a tank, a filmreceiving reel having a hollow hub rotatably mounted in said tank, a cover for the tank provided with an opening above said hub and adapted to rotatably carry a film cartridge adjacent its underside, a turning knob overlying the cover and having an extension projecting through said cover opening and connected to said hub, said knob and extension being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a. pin rotatably disposed in said axial opening with its lower end detachably connected to said tank, a turning knob connected to the upper end of said pin, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of film from said cartridge, a coil spring compressed between said knobs for biasing said pin upwardly, and a key slidably mounted between said knob extension and hub with its lower end connected to the lower end portion of said pin for axial movement therewith, the lower surface of the cover being provided with a recess adjacent its opening, and the upper end of said key projecting into said recess when the upwardly biased locking member is released from said tank whereby to hold the reel against rotation with said attaching means in film attaching position relative to the cartridge.

10. A film developer comprising a tank adapted to rotatably receive a film cartridge, a removable cover for the tank, film cartridge positioning means in the tank for rotatably receiving the film cartridge, means defining a path for the unwinding of film from said cartridge, a reel rotatably mounted in the tank beside said cartridge-positioning means for receiving film from the cartridge, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of said film, releasable reel-positioning means for locking the reel with said film attaching means in predetermined film attaching position relative to said path-defining means, and means operable in response to atv tachment oi the cover to the tank for automatically releasing said reel-locking means.

ll. A film developer comprising a tank adapted to rotatably receive a film cartridge, a removable cover for the tank, film cartridge carrying means depending from the cover into the tank for rotatably connecting the film cartridge to the cover, a reel rotatably mounted on the underside of the cover beside said means for receiving film from the cartridge, means on the reel for attaching the leading end of said film,-

means for turning the reel for winding the film thereon, the inner faces of the reel flanges being provided with spiral grooves for receiving the edges of the film, and releasable reeLpositioning means for locking the reel with said film attaching means in predetermined film attaching position relative to the cover and cartridge-carrying means while the reel and cartridge-carrying means are supported by the cover outside or the tank.

LEWIS D. ANDREWS. JOHN W. GILLON. 

